Darren Fletcher is being backed to overcome illness and still be a big player for Scotland.
In what is a massive blow for Craig Levein’s team, the Manchester United man has been ruled out of Saturday’s must-win Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein because of tonsillitis.
However, Fletcher harbours hopes of being well enough to line up against Spain in the second match of the double-header on Tuesday.
Few players plying their trade north of the border know Fletcher better than Dundee United midfielder John Rankin, with the pair having come through the Old Trafford youth set-up together.
Indeed, they used to share a lift to Manchester from Scotland during their formative years under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson and his backroom team.
Rankin saw at first hand how Fletcher overcame a horrific injury to go on to launch his fantastic career with club and country, becoming a fixture for the Red Devils and earning 55 international caps.
So he believes his old pal and Scotland’s greatest asset can recover in time to take his rightful place in midfield among the Spanish superstars in Alicante.
”We used to travel down together in the car so we go back a long way,” Rankin said.
”I will always remember how at 15 years of age he basically came straight out of school and right into the Man United reserve team.
”Early on in his career, though, he literally shot himself in the foot while working on his father’s farm down in Dalkeith,” Rankin revealed.
”He was doing something with a nail gun and put it through his foot.
”It did his metatarsal so he had to get special boots made for himself.
”That was a terrible setback and, for two or three years, he was struggling with injuries as a result of that.
”Then, all of a sudden, he just came back and it was as though he had never missed a game.
”Thankfully, he is naturally fit anyway which means he just has that energy which gets him about the park.Massive loss”He is obviously a massive loss for the Liechtenstein game because the influence he has on everyone in the Scotland the team is there for all to see.
”I am hopeful he can make himself available for the Spain game next Tuesday and he himself hasn’t ruled that out yet.
”Darren has gone up against some of the Spanish players while playing for Man United in the Champions League and looks comfortable in that company.
”That won’t faze him because that is the sort of standard of player he comes up against every week in the English Premiership.
”He has been brilliant for Scotland and made his debut at the age of 20 and now has over 50 caps and he is not even 28.
”His best years are still ahead of him.
”So much so, that I think he will probably break the caps record for Scotland.”
The Scotland squad flew out from Glasgow Airport for their Switzerland base without Fletcher.
Also, striker Kenny Miller has a minor tear in his groin and is also likely to miss the Liechtenstein game but he travelled and is hopeful of being fit to face the Spaniards.
Manager Levein knows there is little else he can do but wait to see what the next few days bring but is unwilling to offer ”false hope” of Fletcher being available for the Spain game and insists he will not gamble with Miller.
”Darren is our captain and arguably our best player,” said Levein
”So I would like to have him available. Every time he is not available, it is a blow for us.
”He is improving, I spoke to him land he is feeling better so I am hopeful but I would not want to give anyone false hope.
”Kenny is also improving. He will train on Friday but I won’t take a chance.”